Ski carrier

ABSTRACT

A flexible lanyard and pliable housing into which the lanyard is forcibly wrapped for storage and from which it is extensible to form a loop secured around a pair of skis by means of a hook at its terminal end, a feature being the mounting of the housing upon a garment worn over the forearm of the skier and from which the skis are suspended by the lanyard looped and hooked therearound so as to relieve the skier&#39;&#39;s muscles of fatigue when carrying the skis an extended time.

United States Patent 1191 Willmarth Dec. 17, 1974 [5 SKI CARRIER 1,577,272 3/1926 Treadaway 224/28 D ux 2,530,695 11/1950 Helmert 224 45 s x [76] Inventor: Charles wnmarth 1245 3,062,475 11/1962 Miller 242/85.1

Beverly Glen Blvd, Los Angeles, Cahf' 90024 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan [22] Filed: Sept. 27, 1973 Assistant ExaminerJero]d M Forsberg App]. No.: 401,503

US. Cl 224/28 R, 224/5 Z, 224/5 M,

224/45 S, 242/851, 242/96 Int. Cl. .1. A45f 5/00 Field of Search 224/5 Z, 45 S, 28 R, 28 A,

224/28 B, 28 D, 26 R, 5 M, 58, 45 Q; 242/851, 96, 125.2, 125.1, 125.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,975 9/1880 Voos 224/55 [57] ABSTRACT A flexible lanyard and pliable housing into which the lanyard is forcibly wrapped for storage and from which it is extensible to form a loop secured around a pair of skis by means of a hook at its terminal end, a feature being the mounting of the housing upon a garment worn overthe forearm of the skier and from which the skis are suspended by the lanyard looped.

and hooked therearound so as to relieve the skiers muscles of fatigue when carrying the skis an extended time.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SKI CARRIER BACKGROUND It is skis in particular which are the concern of this invention, since a pair of skis is of substantial weight and ungainly due to their length, and because they require manual transport and handling while exposed to other persons. Thus, as a matter of convenience and because of safety, it becomes apparent that assured proper handling of skis is much to be desired. For example, skis must be transported by the skier when moving about, from car or bus to lodge or to a ski area, within the close quarters of a lobby among other people also with skis, and when moving about etc. In many situations and circumstances, skis must be carried by the skier for extended time periods and it is quite objectionable that one person will be struck by the skis of another, due to carelessness or simply because skis become difficult to handle as muscle fatigue occurs. Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple and practical carrier by which skis are conveniently transported with safety, and which is safely stored with facility when not in use.

FIELD OF INVENTION Carriers for skis and various like objects have been characterized by straps and hardware which are cumbersome and difficult to use. Also, reels and the like have been used for retractile storage. of supporting straps and cords; but all with undue complexity and characterized by hard projections and/or strapings subject to snagging and/or entanglement. Also, the ordinary presence of projecting hardware is bodily dangerous to the skier; and it is to these ends that an object of this invention is to provide a carrier and storage means therefor, devoid of dangerous projecting hardware, and characterized by soft and supple elements. With the present invention, the ski support is a lanyard of flexible cord and the storage means therefor is a housing of yieldable material into which the lanyard is conveniently forced and alternately retracted. The storage means is mounted onto a base to which the lanyard is anchored; and it is this base which is affixed to the forearm or wrist of the skier.

An object of this invention is to provide a carrier of the type thus far referred to that is adaptable to skier garments worn over the'forearm or wrist; and to this end the aforementioned base of the storage means is affixed to the cuff of a jacket, or to the cuff of a glove, or to the handcuff worn by the skier, or to any like garment. In each instance, the garment covers the forearm of the skier and namely the wrist area thereof, and it is the back or posterior side of the garment to which the said base is affixed. Accordingly, the garment is heavy in body but soft and pliable and in no way can it be bodily damaging.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrier of the type thus far referred to which is apparent in its simplicity as related to a pair of skis, to be employed as a support therefor. With the present invention, the very nature of the lanyard and its disposition from the wrist of the skier is conducive to suspension of the skis. In this respect it is the ski bindings that are prominent and beneath which the lanyard is looped around the pair of skis; so as to bind them together and to suspend them from the forearm and/or wrist of the to hand from the arm by which the skiers hand is present to guide or balance them as may be required; such manipulation being varied and non-tiring as compared with a consistently forced grip as would otherwise be required to hold and to support a pair of skis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The ski carrier hereinafter disclosed and claimed is primarily software, in that it is comprised for the most part of soft, pliable and flexible or yielding matericuff, an anchor A by which a lanyard .Y is secured to the base, and a housing H for storage of the lanyard and from which the lanyard is withdrawn for support of the pair of skis S. Looping means D is provided for securing the free end of the lanyard when it is wrapped around the skis S below the bindings 10 thereof.

DRAWINGS The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the followingdetailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a skier utilizing the carrier of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the ski carrier shown affixed to the cuff of the garment, with V the lanyard stored therein. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in'partial section with the lanyard withdrawn and extended and secured by means D to surround a pair of skis to be carried thereby. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 44 on FIG. 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings illustrate the normal use of the ski carrier from which a pair of skis S can be suspended by looping the lanyard Y beneath the bindings 10. As shown, it is customary to carry the skis heel down with the toes or points upward. It is most convenient to place the bottoms of the two skis together, so that the bindings project as opposite enlargements beneath thereof which surrounds the wrist is that which is employed as the foundation, and preferably the cuff portion C thereof that protectively covers the wrist. In practice, the cuff portion C can be that of a shirt, a Windbreaker, or coat; or it can be that of a glove; or it can be that of a separate band to surround the wrist as an attachment or supplement to cover the other underlying garments. In the preferred embodiment, and broadly speaking, the cuff portion C is a widened band of elasticized material that can be stretched over the hand and onto the wrist of the skier. Alternately, any equivalent wrist band adapted to be fastened over the wrist as by means of buckles and the like can be employed.

The base B is a solid member which is stiff and planar in form to overlie the back portion of the wrist process at the lowermost end of the forearm. There are various ways in which the base B can be affixed to the cuff C, and as shown it is held thereto by means ofa pair of bails 16 at its opposite sides. In carrying out this invention, the carrier is essentially a round unit of construction forming a disc-shaped enlargement overlying the wrist in which case the base B is comprised of a planar disc 17 of sheet material with parallel portions of its opposite margins struck or displaced therefrom to provide the said bails. Accordingly, the band 15 is passed through the bails and thereby secures the base to closely overlie the wrist.

The anchor A is incorporated in the base B and is preferably in the form of an opening 29 through the planar disc 17, to. pass the lanyard Y which is a flexible cord adjustably knotted at l8 beneath the disc so that it will not pull therethrough. As shown, the disc 17 is upwardly depressed at 24 radially inward of opening 29 to accommodate the anchor knot at 18. Thus the lanyard Y of suitable length, as shown, can extend radially from the-top 19 of the disc 17.

In accordance with this invention there is the deformable housing H that releasably encloses the lanyard Y that is manually wrapped thereon and alternately unwrapped thereform. A feature is the supple and/or pliable properties of the material from which the housing is formed, a plastic or elastomer, so as to be bodily nondamaging. In this regard, the housing H is a low profile half-shell that lies invertedly over the base B. The housing H is supported from the base B by a center post 20 that is protectively recessed therein and fastened to the base through a central opening therein as by'riveting 21. As shown, the center portion of housing H is an upstanding column 22 with a bore 23 therethrough to frictionally pass the post 20, there being a recess in the housing to receive an overlying head 25 on said part. In carrying out this invention, the top 26 of the housing is slightly concavo-convex and spaced sustantially from the base B, so as to provide a chamber for storage of the lanyard Y. The said chamber 30 is then closed by a depending peripheral side wall 27 of the housing, the lowermost edge 28 of which normally touches or is juxtapositioned to the top face 19 of said base.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is the chamber 30 for releasably receiving the lanyard Y that can be readily wrapped onto or unwrapped from around the column 22. The housing is pliable and supple in its material properties, and consequently it is but a simple matter to forcibly pull the lanyard around with a winding motion of the skiers other hand, thereby distorting the housing for said wrapping and unwrapping operation.

The looping means D is provided to expedite the securement of the free end of the lanyard wrapped around a pair of skis, beneath the bindings 10 thereof and to itself as a loop, as shown. It is to be understood that, with time permitted, the free end of the lanyard can be tied; but it is more expedient to provide the material is comprised of a top wall carried by and a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the top face of the means D for effecting immediate attachment or'detachment of the free end of the lanyard; and to this end there is provided the hook 35 of means 'D. The hook 35 is preferably a safety hook that tends to remain attached by virtue of an extended nose' 36 that'overlies its shank 37 with a space therebetweenforthe deliberate removal or entry therethrough of the lanyard. Thus, the loop is quickly made secure around the supported skis S tensioning the lanyard when hanging from the anchor A affixed to the base B overlying the skier's foundation wrist for support. Accessinto thechamber 30 for threading lanyard Y through the anchor opening and for cleaning, is gained by deforming the housing H into an inside-out condition; after which the normal cup-shape is restored to as shown.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art; I claim:

1. A carrier for a pair of skis arranged bottom to bottom with their bindings projecting oppositely, and including; a substantially flat base affixed to a supporting cuff adapted to surround the wrist of a skier, a housing of deformable material and of inverted cup-shape overlying the base and supported by a central column extending from one side of the base, a lanyard of flexible cord anchored to one of said base and column and adapted to wrap around the column for storage within the housing chamber and to alternately unwrap and extend from between the base and said overlying deformable housing, the free end of the'lanyard including means for releasably looped engagement around the pair of skis, said housing of deformable material being comprised of a circularly-shaped top wall carried by and spaced by the central column to overlie the said one side of the base, and of a peripheral wall concentrically circular in form around the said central column and depending from the top wall and said peripheral wall having a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the said one side of the base, said lanyard being wrapped or unwrapped about the central column and within said housing by manually drawing the lanyard beneath the flexible housing and between the lower edge of the peripheral wall and the base, said lower edge deflecting either inwardly or outwardly to permit the lanyard to pass therebelow.

2. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the supporting cuff is a portion of a garment worn by a skier.

3. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing of deformable material is concentrically circular in form around the said central column and is comprised of a top wall carried by and spaced by the central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall depending from the top wall and with a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the base.

4. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is a planar element with a top face overlying the supporting cuff, and wherein the housing of deformable spaced by a central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall depending from the top wall and with base.

wherein the housing of deformable material is comprised of a top wall carried by and spaced by a central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall dewith a top face overlying the supporting cuff, and

pending from the top wall and with a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the top face of the base.

7. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for said releasably looped engagement of the lanyard around the pair of skis is a hook at the free end of the lanyard, to be engaged over the lanyard near said anchor thereof.

8. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for said releasably looped engagement of the lanyard around the pair of skis is a hook with a nose closely overlying a shank and at the freeend of the lanyard to be deliberately engaged over the lanyard near 

1. A carrier for a pair of skis arranged bottom to bottom with their bindings projecting oppositely, and including; a substantially flat base affixed to a supporting cuff adapted to surround the wrist of a skier, a housing of deformable material and of inverted cup-shape overlying the base and supported by a central column extending from one side of the base, a lanyard of flexible cord anchored to one of said base and column and adapted to wrap around the column for storage within the housing chamber and to alternately unwrap and extend from between the base and said overlying deformable housing, the free end of the lanyard including means for releasably looped engagement around the pair of skis, said housing of deformable material being comprised of a circularly-shaped top wall carried by and spaced by the central column to overlie the said one side of the base, and of a peripheral wall concentrically circular in form around the said central column and depending from the top wall and said peripheral wall having a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the said one side of the base, said lanyard being wrapped or unwrapped about the central column and within said housing by manually drawing the lanyard beneath the flexible housing and between the lower edge of the peripheral wall and the base, said lower edge deflecting either inwardly or outwardly to permit the lanyard to pass therebelow.
 2. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the supporting cuff is a portion of a garment worn by a skier.
 3. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing of deformable material is concentrically circular in form around the said central column and is comprised of a top wall carried by and spaced by the central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall depending from the top wall and with a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the base.
 4. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is a planar element with a top face overlying the supporting cuff, and wherein the housing of deformable material is comprised of a top wall carried by and spaced by a central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall depending from the top wall and with a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the top face of the base.
 5. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is a planar element with a top face having an anchor opening therethrough, and wherein the lanyard extends through said anchor opening and is knotted beneath the base.
 6. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is a planar element with a top face having an anchor opening therethrough, wherein the lanyard extends through said anchor opening and is knotted beneath the base, wherein the base is a planar element with a top face overlying the supporting cuff, and wherein the housing of deformable material is comprised of a top wall carried by and spaced by a central column to overlie the base, and of a peripheral wall depending from the top wall and with a lower edge normally juxtaposed to the top face of the base.
 7. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for said releasably looped engagement of the lanyard around the pair of skis is a hook at the free end of the lanyard, to be engaged over the lanyard near said anchor thereof.
 8. The ski carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for said releasably looped engagement of the lanyard around the pair of skis is a hook with a nose closely overlying a shank and at the free end of the lanyard to be deliberately engaged over the lanyard near said anchor thereof. 